The Lunar New Year festivities and traditions have been celebrated by Chinese for many centuries. It is an important occasion, bringing children, grand-children, parents and grand-parents together.
As has been practised many years in our life time, Chinese New Year brings to us memories of spring cleaning our houses, giving ang-pows to children, exchanging oranges, wearing everything red, getting together the families for the grand re-union dinner, visiting friends and relatives and remembering our loved ones.
Here we share our thoughts and exchange our greetings. Feel free to tell us what you have been doing in your house, whether you make or lose, how much ang pow you have given or collected and what you doing during the Lunar New Year, the year of the hard-working Ox.
And if you are an Ox, come tell us what the new year will mean for you. No limit on the number of words or times you want to share your thoughts. A Happy prosperous New Year to everybody.
From and to every SHCian.
Last week, I completed CNY decor. Tomorrow, I start baking pineapple tarts & other kueh2.
My children and grandchild are coming back to Perth to join relatives for reunion dinner at our favourite Chinese restaurant where there will be lion dance & martial arts performances. At midnight on the eve, we will telephone & exchange greetings with relatives in Spore. Then I will cook a big pot of rice so we wont go hungry for the rest of the year…hee
26 Jan is also Australia Day, so it’s a public holiday for everybody. We look forward to visit relatives & friends for low hei, exchange mandarins with greetings, gifts and ang-pows.
Wishing all SHC members Xin Nian Kwai Ler! Take good care of your family and everything around you.
Dear friends and fellow SHCians,
The Lunar New Year has always been a very traditional celebration for me, and I enjoy holding onto its customs and beliefs. My wife and son are Thais, and since most Thais do not celebrate the Lunar New Year, I tend to have shorter CNY activities in Singapore. For this year, I shall be in Spore on the 1st and 2nd day, visiting relatives and friends.
I wish all SHCians a healthy and prosperous Ox year.
Terence Seah
Hi
I must say that CNY is quieer for me now that my mum has passed away. Plus my kids are bigger. Just doesnt feel the same.
Anyway, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
Wishing all a Happy and Prosperous Year of the Ox.
Working in a senior citizens home for the past few years, I’ve seen how happy the senior citizens feel whenever we take them on an outing, whether to celebrate festivals, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day etc. It’s sad though to see quite a number of them alone in their twilight years, with no family members to share the happy moments with. I hope that with SHC, many of us will not be alone while growing old.
Gong Xi Fa Cai folks!
Norhayati
yes, a happy chinese Moo year to all shc folks. i have not been able to attend most shc functions because of schedule and interest, but look forward to it whenever i can.
trust we will all have a great family time of bonding, improve relationships and be generous to those in need.
looks like most of us may have to work harder and achieve more than before this year to keep the future manageable to us.
happy moo year!
Greetings to All.
I shall have a long break from Saturday thru Wednesday, and I do look forward to the charity event on 24 Jan 2009. Hopefully, fellow SHCians and my presence will bring some cheer, joy and hope to our seniors from homes some of whom may have been long forgotten by their loved ones who will, ironically, be busy with visitings of their choices.
The Chinese tradition of visits is lost in me. My ex(es) do invite me to join them for reunion dinners but I’d rather give them a miss.
I yearn this inner peace of spending time with the inalienable fabulous four – I, me, myself & Timothy. It’s a time for quiet reflection, all the more necessary in bleak time like this when unpredictable challenges are many.
There will be time to play – huh, in the name of visits – and that will come on the 2nd day when investors congregate in one house off Bishan to outwit each other for what’s most important commodity in life today – $$ – in a game of blackjack.
As we usher in the Year of the bison, we are heartened to read that the Reserves will be unlocked to help pump drive the ailing economy. I hope that other than directing the money to businesses, there will also be help-packages for the needy.
For those with money in their CPF but can-see-no-touch even tho the money is badly needed. Dont make people beg for hand-outs when they actually have the $$. CPF is savings for use in old age….sure, but what old age to talk about if he may starve and not live beyond today?
Let the bison not turn into a buffoon.
Dear All,
The post is lengthy, please bear with me as I wish to share my view, thanks for reading.
Its Chinese New Year again, and this year is the year of OX.The Chinese calendar is based on the phases of the moon, there are 12 months in a year and each month begins with a new moon, the full moon is on the 15th of every month and each month is about 29 or 30 days long.year 2009 is the year of Earth Ox,people born in the year of ox are calm, reponsible, hard working & modest
While most cultures around the world celebrate New Year’s as a time of renewal, for the Chinese, the New Year means that and much more. It is a time to gather with family, honor ancestors and celebrate with a big banquet that symbolizes prosperity in the New Year.
The Lunar New Year means a fresh new start for each year,in the Chinese tradition, Chinese follow “superstitious” rules, e.g.You can’t say any foul languages or negative words; for Chinese New Year always say positive, good luck words.
You have to wear new pajamas on New Year’s eve, and wear new red clothes on New Year’s day. You can’t sweep the floor on New Year’s because you might sweep away good luck.
I am still holding on to the Chinese custom, believes and tradition which was passed down from generation to generation from my great grandpa where all the family members have to be present for the prayer & offering to our ancestors & reunion dinner for “Huo Guo” and today our 5th generation is still following it, my siblings from all over the world will fly back to my hometown not only to celebrate the Lunar New year, we have our big feast even on the 2nd day being my Dad’s birthday, we don’t believe in going to restaurants to have our feast, we cook at home instead, many of my family members are involved in the process of preparing the dishes, from as young as 5 years old who helps in the kitchen, and we are able to come up with at least 10 dishes for non-vegetarian and 5 dishes of vegetarian food for my siblings who are vegetarian.
I have 14 siblings with 7 men & 7 ladies, we need a big space for gathering, my Dad & Mum have 10 daughters & son inlaws, 28 grand children & 2 great grandsons. We exchange Ang Pows with each other for the younger generation, I am still receiving Ang Pows from my parents till today. As for me, I am giving to my parents, siblings & their children, CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MANY ANG POWS I HAVE TO PACKED? HAHAHA……….
Well, its our tradition & culture and I am enjoying it very much because it fosters bonding between siblings and inculcate respect, co-operation & understanding to our younger generation.
I wish all SCH members & their loved ones A HAPPY 7 PROPEROUS LUNAR NEW YEAR,
GONG XI FA CHAI
SHENG TI JIAN KANG
XIN XIANG SHI CHEN
PU PU GAU SHENG
NIAN NIAN YOU YU
ENJOY & CHEERS!!!
Sorry typo error, it was meant
A Happy & Properous Lunar New Year
The following is a riddle which should be very fun to ask and debate on the right answers during the CNY season.
“I have 14 siblings with 7 men & 7 ladies……my Dad & Mum have 10 daughters & son inlaws”
7 gals plus the “I” makes 8 gals so the parents have 8 daughtes. Then where come the additional 2 daughters to give the number 10?
Or is it a case that only 5 of the gals are married (and add their spouses, it becomes 10)?
Or can it be 1 + 9, 2 + 8 or 7 + 3, 6 + 4 (or other combinations)?
We might need a poll for that…………….
Hi Tim,
Hee…… you caught my wrong sentence structure and grammar mistakes, thank you for that.
Hahaha, you really count!
I should say 13 siblings including me is 14 lah and not all married yet.
5 sons married = 5 daughter-in-laws
6 daughters married = 5 son-in-laws (Cos I am still avalable)
So total = 5 son-in-laws & 5 daughter-in-laws equal 10
Any more mistakes? Please let me know.
Regards & Cheers!
Hi to all SHCians,
Chinese New Year Holidays have been always a working day for me especially on the eve and on the 1st day of CNY. But, I am happy at work, while my working colleques spend their time to celebrate CNY with their loved ones.
Wishing all SHCians and your loved ones ” A Very Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year”.
Thank you Sekaran, for being our unsung hero. This is a beauty of our multi-racial society where we not only live with each other in harmony but also help each other out when the need arises.
Nancy, my riddle really got you into counting frenzy huh? Haha, it was a mere tongue in cheek, and whatever the number may be, we can see that it’s a happy closely knit family and that’s priceless.
Btw, if you have more angpows to give, i wont mind queueing overnite like many did during the property boom. But please ensure it contains more than a “Thank you for your interest & support”. Or a shawl in it…………
Hi Tim,
An ang pow of “Thank you for your interest & support plus May you have a wonderful Lunar New Year with lots of faith, courage, joy, good health & good luck” for the Lunar New Year.
My wish to you is priceless, right?
Oops! I have forgotten to include my Dad’s grand son in law in his list.
Regards!
Ok, my take on Chinese New Year
I didn’t think I would ever enjoy celebrating Chinese New Year again, but this year, it looks like I am feeling the excitement and fun that I thought was gone forever.
For so many years, Chinese New Year was a time I had anticipated with some dread of the amount of work that was expected of me. I had to follow countless traditions and practices and baked and cooked and cleaned so much that it was never fun for me. Imagine, I was still up at 2am, on New Year’s eve, cleaning and preparing for the next day,no doubt with the help of my maid (poor soul), after all my in-laws had had their fill of the sumptuous food and left. Then I had to be ready the next morning, to leave early for the temples, yes, temples. Not one but 3! Stress! stress! stress!
Well, that is all over now, thank god!
After a few years of not doing all that, I am now beginning to pick up some traditions here and there again and liking it. No more temple visits for sure.
Now, it’s simple. Reunion dinner on the eve, with my mum, daughters,any sisters who may be in town and my son-in-law, who is trying very hard to assimilate some of our Chinese cultures and traditions.
On New Year’s day, we have our own small celebration to usher in the New Year, of course, with the oranges and ang pows and lots of goodies. This is followed by a visit to my mum’s where we will have lunch with her.
Then…..it’s relaxation time! Could be a game of mahjong or just chilling out back home, with the family…. Possibly one or two visits …. We’ll see…..
As I am writing this, I can actually feel my excitement and anticipation mounting. I AM looking forward to this Chinese New Year.
See you all at the Dimsum lunch!!
Kong Xi Fa Cai!! May this year bring all of us good luck, good health, happiness and wisdom!
Hi Mary,
Nice to see you here, how’s life?
Well, I can sympathize with you what you have gone through cos I had the same stress as you when I was staying with my in laws, it was all gone after I became single again.I am sure you are enjoying your present life style right now,enjoy life to fullest. Mary, Cheers to you!
Gong Xi Fa Chai!
Hi MaryC & Hi Nancy,
For me, CNY were big events as my mother-in-law stayed with me for 25 years. I enjoyed going to wet markets in wee hours to buy fresh seafood and meat for steam-boat. After our traditional CNY mass early morn, hubby & I cooked our favourite dishes for relatives & friends. We made heaps of pork/prawns sausages – our in-laws’ favourite (even now we still send our home-made sausages to relatives in Spore).
I fondly remember CNY & in-laws who have passed away. Now hubby & I enjoy cooking for our children, grandchildren, relatives & friends especially new found ones from SHC.
Xin Nian kuai Ler, Cheers!
We don’t have to wait until the cow comes home to say this…..even though it is just a few days away.
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“May you have a wonderful Lunar New Year with lots of faith, courage, joy, good health & good luck” for the Lunar New Year.” Thank you, Nancy-MT.
In my vase, faith is waning, courage is always there hopefully minus the foolhardiness. Joy? Hehehe, she belongs to Danz lah. Good health? Feeling pain all over and doctors are clueless. Good luck…well, just last nite, all for Draw-Draw and 1-1 but was bumped by a botakhead rushing into lift so changed it to 3-1…mati susah.
“For so many years, Chinese New Year was a time I had anticipated with some dread ………I had to follow countless traditions and practices …..Imagine, I was still up at 2am, on New Year’s eve, cleaning…….after all my in-laws had had their fill of the sumptuous food ……the next morning, to leave early for the temples, yes, temples. Not one but 3! Stress! stress! stress!……..Now, it’s ……..my son-in-law……to assimilate….our Chinese cultures and traditions.”
I am reminded of this adage from a con man called Con Fu Cius who thousands of years ago said this “Dont do unto others what you dont want others to do unto you”.
Imagine this angmoh good man up at 2 a.m. CNY eve, cleaning after his mother-in law has had her fill, and then to leave early the next morning for 3 temples. Yes, 3 temples. Stress! Haha………..
Please let me have his tel no. and I shall teach him where to run, how to hide, and what the newest Chinese traditions are, heeee…………
Hi Nancy, Mary and all
Good to hear you are having better CNYs and wish you all it gets better every year. For me the big gatherings that there was at my in-laws, where the number of angpows can get confusing are gone.
Fortunately I did not lose touch with my siblings every year and so will head up north as usual and find some joy over there where values do not seemed to have changed much as here.
Traditions are difficult to keep so are the rules of life, but they do in the end make for a better future I think and hope.
So here’s thanking everyone who has made me feel like a family,the good MJ games ,home cooked food, etc, “Good Health, Happy Family relationships, Peace and a real Good Ox (Bull) Run for the years ahead “.
For those who are going up north please read the advisory about dengue fever on the posting.
Cheers
Is great that most of the people looking forward to welcome the “Ox” Chinese New Year, specially during the period of world recession, everywhere also full of people to rush out for their CNY shopping & as this is our Chinese cultures and traditions.
For many years, My Chinese New Year are very simple, only myself & my son having our Reunioun dinner at my mum’s house & this year all the brothers & sisters’s family will gather together & having a big Reunion dinner at my brother’s house.
First day & second day of Chinese New Year, all of us will gather at my mum’s place with the oranges & ang pows till having our dinner. This year I have additional program & also looking foward of the CNY lunch which organized by SHC.
Wishing all the member having a Heppy Lunar New Year filled with good success, good health, prosperity and joyful and peaceful days ahead.
Judy
Cheers!
Hi Nancy M.
Gong Xi Fa Chye to you too! I’m trying to do that and I hope you are too!
Hi Mary Lee.
I don’t know when I’ll be a grandmother like you, but you can be sure I will enjoy cooking for them too. Right now, it’s a pleasure to cook because I can do it as and when I feel like it.
When one can do as one wishes, even chores can become pleasurable.
Gong Xi Fa Chye!
Tim Liu
How like you to make fun of people. Oh well, what do you expect from a bear with a sore head?
Anyway, I hope you will have a Happy New Year, sore head or not.
Ron Wi
Have a great reunion with your siblings up north and may you have a good run with the Ox too. Hehe.
Happy New Year!
To all SHCians
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Wan Shi Ru Yi!
Xin Nian Kuai Ler!
Nian Nian You Yu!
May all of you achieve your dreams and aspirations!
Me “a bear with a sore head?” Wonder what’s the latest talk in town? Btw, my head is getting botak not sore but my butt is getting sore as it gets less bushy………the honest me will let you check if you hv nothing else to do this CNY.
Interestingly, why are we so happy in welcoming & celebrating a new year which only means we are older and about ripe for dementia, and a step closer to the long box……….
Hi All SHCians
Koong Hei Fatt Choy! May the Ox Year bring Good Health, Happiness and Good Fortune to all.
Hope to join you all in some activities when I’m in S’pore.
Joan
Hi Mary Chan,
Yes, I am enjoying my life, too, though am still very busy with work and studies but I am happy as I need not have to do what I don’t like to do, I wish I will enjoy my next half life to the fullest, there are lots of dreams & goals to achieve.
Hi Mary Lee,
Great that you are enjoying cooking for your love ones on the Chinese Lunar New Year, here I wish you & you family A Very Properous & Happy Ox Year!
One day I must try your pork/prawn sausages, is it “Wu Xiang”?
Cheers!
Hi Ronald Wie,
I am glad that you will be joining your siblings in the north to celebrate CNY, yes, as the saying goes, “Blood is always thicker than water.”, nor matter what happens, our immediate family members are still the best to be with, I am able to survive till today is all because of my family’s moral and mental support, I am thankful to my Dad & Mum to give me life and a good brain to think of solutions to solve my own problems & cross the obstacles, my grandpa had taught me what has to be done during tough time, he has taught me moral & ethical values as a granddaughter, he had trained me to work hard, to cross the hurdles and to be successful, no matter the obstacles will be,with all my Dad, Mum & Grand Dad’s teaching, I am glad that I am what I am today as I am very contented when I see my own children have grown up to be useful generation of the world, really, I am very happy, am blessed.
Gong Xi Fa Chai to all of us!
Hi MaryC, hope you will become a young & pretty grandmother soon! Life with grandkids are so wonderful – they are so adorable!
Hi Nancy M, for the pork/prawn sausages, I use beancurd skin to wrap minced port with prawns, dried mushrooms, garlic, onions, water chestnuts, yam, minced fish, pepper, sesame oil & light soya sauce. Steam them for 20 mins, leave them to cool, then cut into bite pieces and deep-fry. Eat with sweet sauce & archar & century eggs. Will bring some for you when I go to Spore.
Hi Marylee,
Thanks for your offer of the pork/prawn sausages, wah! lots of ingredients, am sure it is delicious, will try it when you come, thank you in advance.
Have a fruitful Ox year!
Gong Xi Fa Chai
Cheers!
Dear SHCians,
Herewith I like to wish everyone of you a “Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year”
May the year of the Ox brings us more Joys, Laughters and more importantly our wishes come True.
Thanks for putting up my picture on the Banner.
Have a Nice Day
Patrick Yeo
I am glad to hear that everyone are ready to usher the Lunar New Year..with anxiety & excitement!..keep the family bonding spirit alive!
I want to wish all shcians a Very Happy Happy Lunar New Year!..May all be blessed with health,happiness & wealth..my special wishes to Robert & Kristy..who are going thru heart breaking times together.
Yati@4..apa macam?..who’s growing old..we are all still young & handsome & cantek..only not so charming!..haha!..ooppss!..sori :)
For me…everytime Lunar New Year…cabot jalan2..this year convoy to PortDickson TiaraBayResort..just relaxing with family & good frens..
Have a wonderful holiday everyone!
Btw, Patrick@31…
mana ada your photo as banner?..i refresh many times also still the five pretty ladies leh?..so kesian lah…or is it my pc koyak rosak oredi?…haha
For years I have not gone visiting any of my relatives during the festive season mainly because I find it such a ‘chore’.
It is not that I can’t see them any other time of the year so I don’t see why I should jostle with the crowd.
Anyway, on CNY’s eve I don’t return from our reunion dinner (with the whole platoon) until past midnight and before we part, we would have already exchanged our wishes. I would have given my parents their hongbaos and oranges.
I’d spend the 1st day sleeping in after exhausting myself the day before helping in the preparation of the feast.
I remember fondly how my little nephews and nieces would call me early on CNY day to ask if it was it was convenient for them to drop by to their ‘sell oranges’.
(That’s because I have not given them their hongbaos.)
Throughout the year I visit and keep in touch with my relatives and friends so I don’t see the need to only visit them during CNY (esp when they too will be busy).
Guess I am not very good at keeping traditions.
Hi Norlinda,
I refresh my PC but it is always Patrick! Never even seen the picture of the 5 pretty ladies. So my PC not only koyak but gila as well!
Wahpiangz, Nor, 1st u cant c PYeo pic n now Lina cant c 5 sui cha bo, apa macham har..
D 5 sui cha bo was up there b4 PYeo solo pic leh.. I can c them lor..
U noe wat, mayb hor, 4 tis 1 hor, Terence can put up a auto change slide show instd lor.. Wander can anot har?.. Dolly
Dolly, Nor,
I must confess I don’t know why some see Patrick Yeo and others see the girls only. There is no auto slide change set. I am not sure what other SHCians see at the top of the website.
Terence Seah
Wei Wei Lina # 35, me too, no matter how I refresh, it’s still Patrick the last few days on the banner, opening his mouth wide singing lor…… no sui char bo leh. The 5 beauties must have quietly escape to do their last minute shopping or spa somewhere…he.he.. They will come back after CNY… poor Patrick must be tired by now.
Yah lor, Suzhang. I never even had a glimpse of the 5 beauties and Nor keeps saying they are there. Patrick’s mouth must be aching by now! For sure, I know Ah Nee is too busy to pose up there on the banner cos she got more important matters to attend to. Have a great Lunar New Year.
Hi MaryL @ #29,
Every year, before CNY I will stock up my fridge with plenty of food becos normally stalls wont open until 3rd or 4th day. Seems like this year, since economy’s been bad, most stalls I’ve checked will open for business from the 2nd day onwards….. a sign that “money’s not enough” for most. This morning I went to the market before 6 and am surprised there were long queue at the pork stall… many were there even earlier than me lah. Like you, it’s also a tradition I will make “ngoh hian” or “hay chor” beforehand and freeze it, so it’s readily available for me when I needs it. Guess I hv not been doing marketing for quite a while. I remembered everything else except for the beancurd skin. :(
MaryL, I would normally clean the beancurd skin with a clean piece of cloth before putting in the ingredients as the skin is rather saltish. Cud you tell me how do you do it without tasting too saltish? Just want to compare note.
Most of the ingredients you’ve listed are identical except I dont put in dried mushroom & yam. Oh, you need to add in 5 spice powder too, right? I have not tried eating it with archar & century eggs though, so it’s something new to experience. :)
Lina #39 Ah Nee told me the 5 beauties went home to prepare for CNY etc…so have sent Patrick up there to hold the fort. LOL.
Lina, you too have a happy reunion dinner with your family and all the best this Lunar New Year !
Gong Xi Fa Cai & Wan Xi Ru Yi to all SHCians !
Aiyoyo….this year, year of OX….don’t seem to be a good year leh. Global financial turmoil, companies closing down and more to come after CNY…….
Back home, I am very stressed, my father was discharged yesterday from CGH after a 7 days ordeal at the hospital. Luckily, he CAN GO HOME (CGH), heheheee…otherwise me & my family, siblings will celebrate CNY in hospital. And I am on 7/24 on call. Lina & Suzhang, so where got mood for anything but nevertheless I want to wish all SHCians A Healthy & Wealthy New Year. Gong Xi Fa Cai, Wan Shi Ru Yi!
Ah Nee
Hi Ah Nee @ 41,
I am so happy to hear that your dad is recovering fast and is out of hospital. He must be V.Fortunate to have such a filial daughter like you 7/24 on call.
Hwre’s wishing your family and you a very Happy and Prosperous Ox spicious year 2009.